Amberley crew rescues US pilot from crash landing in Iraq

A RAAF Base Amberley crew has come to the rescue of a US Hornet pilot faced with a crash landing over Iraq.

The crew of the RAAF KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport swept in to action as the US Marine Corps Hornet was forced to shut down one of its two engines after a mechanical issue while on a combat mission against Daesh over northern Iraq.

KC-30A captain Sqn Ldr Jamie said the complicated rescue attempt involved refuelling the Hornet, which had become dangerously unstable after dropping bombs from one of its wings and also losing one of its engines.

"If we hadn't been able to assist, he would certainly have had to make a less than ideal landing in Iraq," Sqn Ldr Jamie said.

"He did a great job in the end and it was a good feeling to help him out."

The KC-30A crew are part of the Australian Air Task Group deployed with the international coalition in Iraq and Syria.